Patentable/Patents/US-8520980
US-8520980

Image searching method and apparatus

PublishedAugust 27, 2013
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

An image searching method includes: resizing an input image in question; generating 3D image identifiers for the resized input image in question; and performing an image search for the input image in question by using the 3D image identifiers. Said resizing an input image includes: extracting a black-and-white image and a color image from the input image in question; resizing the black-and-white image; and resizing the color image. Said generating 3D image identifiers includes: extracting an MGST feature of the input image in question; extracting an angular partition feature of the input image in question; and extracting a color feature of the input image in question. Further, said performing an image search includes: calculating similarity between representative colors of the input image in question and a reference image; and if the similarity is above a predetermined level, matching the 3D image identifiers for the two images.

Patent Claims
18 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. An image searching method, comprising: resizing an input image in question; generating 3D image identifiers for each pixel from the resized input image in question, the 3D image identifiers being representative of a common feature of transformation of the input image; performing an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image in question using the 3D image identifiers; wherein said generating the 3D image identifiers includes: extracting a Modified Generalized Symmetry Transform (MGST) feature of the input image in question; extracting an angular partition feature of the input image in question; and extracting a color feature of the input image in question.

Plain English Translation

An image searching method resizes an input image, generates 3D image identifiers for each pixel of the resized image representing a common feature of transformation, and performs an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. The 3D image identifiers are created by extracting a Modified Generalized Symmetry Transform (MGST) feature, an angular partition feature, and a color feature from the input image.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The image searching method of claim 1 , wherein said resizing the input image includes: extracting a black-and-white image and a color image from the input image in question; resizing the black-and-white image; and resizing the color image.

Plain English Translation

The image searching method from the previous description resizes the input image by first extracting a black-and-white and a color image. It then resizes both the black-and-white and the color image separately before proceeding to generating 3D image identifiers for each pixel of the resized image representing a common feature of transformation, and performing an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. The 3D image identifiers are created by extracting a Modified Generalized Symmetry Transform (MGST) feature, an angular partition feature, and a color feature from the input image.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The image searching method of claim 2 , wherein the black-and-white image is resized by bi-cubic interpolation.

Plain English Translation

The image searching method from the previous description resizes the input image by first extracting a black-and-white and a color image. It then resizes both the black-and-white and the color image separately before proceeding to generating 3D image identifiers for each pixel of the resized image representing a common feature of transformation, and performing an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. The 3D image identifiers are created by extracting a Modified Generalized Symmetry Transform (MGST) feature, an angular partition feature, and a color feature from the input image. The black and white image is resized using bi-cubic interpolation.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The image searching method of claim 2 , wherein said resizing the color image includes: dividing the input image in question into three channel images; resizing each of the three channel images by bi-cubic interpolation; and matching the resized three channel images with each other again to resize the color image.

Plain English Translation

The image searching method from claim 2 resizes the color image by dividing it into three channel images, resizing each channel using bi-cubic interpolation, and then recombining the resized channels. The method first extracts a black-and-white and a color image. It then resizes both the black-and-white and the color image separately before proceeding to generating 3D image identifiers for each pixel of the resized image representing a common feature of transformation, and performing an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. The 3D image identifiers are created by extracting a Modified Generalized Symmetry Transform (MGST) feature, an angular partition feature, and a color feature from the input image.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The image searching method of claim 1 , wherein said extracting the MGST feature includes: classifying pixel pairs which are symmetrically disposed about the central pixel in a certain area within the input image in question; and accumulating a degree of symmetry for each of the pixel pairs to calculate the MGST feature.

Plain English Translation

The image searching method resizes an input image, generates 3D image identifiers for each pixel of the resized image representing a common feature of transformation, and performs an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. To extract the Modified Generalized Symmetry Transform (MGST) feature, the method classifies pixel pairs symmetrically disposed around a central pixel within a specific area of the input image and calculates the MGST feature by accumulating a symmetry degree for each pair.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The image searching method of claim 5 , wherein the MGST feature is divided by quantization in 7 levels.

Plain English Translation

The image searching method resizes an input image, generates 3D image identifiers for each pixel of the resized image representing a common feature of transformation, and performs an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. To extract the Modified Generalized Symmetry Transform (MGST) feature, the method classifies pixel pairs symmetrically disposed around a central pixel within a specific area of the input image and calculates the MGST feature by accumulating a symmetry degree for each pair. The MGST feature is then quantized into 7 levels.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The image searching method of claim 1 , wherein the angular partition feature is divided by quantization in 13 levels.

Plain English Translation

The image searching method resizes an input image, generates 3D image identifiers for each pixel of the resized image representing a common feature of transformation, and performs an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. The angular partition feature is divided by quantization in 13 levels.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The image searching method of claim 1 , wherein said extracting the color feature includes: obtaining an average RGB value of a 3×3 area about each pixel of the input image in question; and segmenting the average RGB value for mapping to a hue value in hue saturation intensity color space.

Plain English Translation

The image searching method resizes an input image, generates 3D image identifiers for each pixel of the resized image representing a common feature of transformation, and performs an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. Extracting the color feature involves obtaining an average RGB value from a 3x3 area around each pixel and segmenting this average to map it to a hue value within the hue saturation intensity color space.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The image searching method of claim 8 , wherein the hue value is divided by quantization in 10 levels.

Plain English Translation

The image searching method resizes an input image, generates 3D image identifiers for each pixel of the resized image representing a common feature of transformation, and performs an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. Extracting the color feature involves obtaining an average RGB value from a 3x3 area around each pixel and segmenting this average to map it to a hue value within the hue saturation intensity color space. The hue value is quantized into 10 levels.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. The image searching method of claim 1 , wherein said performing the image search includes: calculating a similarity between representative colors of the input image in question and the reference image; and if the similarity is above a predetermined level, matching the 3D image identifiers for each of the representative colors of the input image in question and the reference image.

Plain English Translation

The image searching method resizes an input image, generates 3D image identifiers for each pixel of the resized image representing a common feature of transformation, and performs an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. The image search involves calculating a similarity between representative colors of the input image and a reference image. If the similarity exceeds a threshold, the method proceeds to match the 3D image identifiers for each of the representative colors of the input image and the reference image.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. The image searching method of claim 10 , wherein the representative colors of the input image in question are composed of 5 representative colors selected out of colors extracted from the input image in question as the color feature.

Plain English Translation

The image searching method resizes an input image, generates 3D image identifiers for each pixel of the resized image representing a common feature of transformation, and performs an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. The image search involves calculating a similarity between representative colors of the input image and a reference image. If the similarity exceeds a threshold, the method proceeds to match the 3D image identifiers for each of the representative colors of the input image and the reference image. The representative colors consist of 5 colors selected from colors extracted from the input image as the color feature.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The image searching method of claim 10 , wherein said matching the 3D image identifiers includes: extracting the 3D image identifiers of each of the input image in question and the reference image; and calculating a distance between 3D image identifiers of pixels for the 3D image identifiers of each of the two images for matching there between.

Plain English Translation

The image searching method resizes an input image, generates 3D image identifiers for each pixel of the resized image representing a common feature of transformation, and performs an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. The image search involves calculating a similarity between representative colors of the input image and a reference image. If the similarity exceeds a threshold, the method proceeds to match the 3D image identifiers for each of the representative colors of the input image and the reference image. Matching the 3D image identifiers includes extracting the 3D identifiers from both images and calculating a distance between pixel 3D identifiers to match the images.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The image searching method of claim 12 , wherein the 3D image identifiers are configured in a 3D histogram structure.

Plain English Translation

The image searching method resizes an input image, generates 3D image identifiers for each pixel of the resized image representing a common feature of transformation, and performs an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. The image search involves calculating a similarity between representative colors of the input image and a reference image. If the similarity exceeds a threshold, the method proceeds to match the 3D image identifiers for each of the representative colors of the input image and the reference image. The 3D image identifiers are organized in a 3D histogram structure.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. The image searching method of claim 1 , wherein the input image in question is a user created contents image.

Plain English Translation

The image searching method resizes an input image, generates 3D image identifiers for each pixel of the resized image representing a common feature of transformation, and performs an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. The input image is a user created content image.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform an image searching method, the method comprising: resizing a size of an input image in question; generating 3D image identifiers from the resized input image in question, the 3D image identifiers being representative of a common feature of transformation of the input image; performing an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image in question using the 3D image identifiers; wherein said generating the 3D image identifiers includes: extracting a Modified Generalized Symmetry Transform (MGST) feature of the input image in question; extracting an angular partition feature of the input image in question; and extracting a color feature of the input image in question.

Plain English Translation

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium contains instructions for an image searching method. When executed, the instructions resize an input image, generate 3D image identifiers for each pixel representing a common feature of transformation, and perform an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. The 3D image identifiers are created by extracting a Modified Generalized Symmetry Transform (MGST) feature, an angular partition feature, and a color feature from the input image.

Claim 16

Original Legal Text

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein said resizing to the input image includes: extracting a black-and-white image and a color image from the input image in question; resizing the black-and-white image; and resizing the color image.

Plain English Translation

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium contains instructions for an image searching method. When executed, the instructions resize an input image by extracting a black-and-white and a color image and resizing them separately, generate 3D image identifiers for each pixel representing a common feature of transformation, and perform an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. The 3D image identifiers are created by extracting a Modified Generalized Symmetry Transform (MGST) feature, an angular partition feature, and a color feature from the input image.

Claim 17

Original Legal Text

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein said performing the image search includes: calculating similarity between representative colors of the input image in question and a reference image; and if the similarity is above a predetermined level, match the 3D image identifiers for the two images.

Plain English Translation

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium contains instructions for an image searching method. When executed, the instructions resize an input image, generate 3D image identifiers for each pixel representing a common feature of transformation, and perform an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. The image search involves calculating the similarity between representative colors of the input image and a reference image. If the similarity exceeds a threshold, match the 3D image identifiers for the two images.

Claim 18

Original Legal Text

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the 3D image identifiers are configured in a 3D histogram structure.

Plain English Translation

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium contains instructions for an image searching method. When executed, the instructions resize an input image, generate 3D image identifiers for each pixel representing a common feature of transformation, and perform an image search by comparing a reference image with the input image using these identifiers. The 3D image identifiers are configured in a 3D histogram structure.

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

December 29, 2009

Publication Date

August 27, 2013

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